Vapebeat

Jason Artman

Introducing VIGGO, Australia’s New Pod Vape

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Life isn’t easy for Australian vapers. As we’ve mentioned elsewhere on this site, the legal hurdles required to buy nicotine e-liquid in Australia could give an outside observer the impression that the Australian government actually prefers its citizens to smoke rather than vape. You can read more about those hurdles via the link above. In short, though, the only legal way to buy e-liquid that actually makes sense for most Australian vapers is to import it – so that’s what most Australians do.

Importing e-liquid into Australia works fine for bottled e-liquids, but buying vape pods in Australia can be problematic because pod systems that use pre-filled pods aren’t available domestically. Why would vape shops sell JUUL, for example, when nicotine-free pods aren’t available for that device? Although it’s legal to import pre-filled pod systems into Australia with a prescription, the makers of most of those devices aren’t set up for Australian shipping.

What Australians need, in other words, is a pod system that’s designed for them, and more importantly, is sold by a company that actually understands the challenges of shipping nicotine vaping products to Australia. That’s exactly what the folks at Vaper Empire believe they have with the new VIGGO pod system.

What Is the VIGGO Pod System?

The VIGGO is a vaping device designed to bring the pleasures of pod vaping to people in Australia and New Zealand without the problems – long shipping times and uninformed customer service representatives – that tend to go along with importing such devices into those regions. Vaper Empire has an Australian office and has customer service agents stationed in Australia. Those agents understand the legal hurdles that Australian vapers must overcome to import e-liquid, and they’re trained to walk customers through the process. Once the purchase is made, it arrives from an overseas fulfillment center via DHL in 3-5 business days.

The VIGGO is slightly larger than some pod systems such as the JUUL, enabling it to support a higher-capacity 400 mAh battery and generous 1.8 ml pods. The sides of the device are gently sloped for comfort, and the VIGGO also sports a soft-touch external finish. It’s available in two starter kits costing $59.99 and $89.99 in Australian dollars. The more expensive kit includes a leather carrying case and three packs of pods. The less expensive kit, meanwhile, includes one pack of pods.

Vaper Empire offers a bulk pod deal that helps to make up for the few days of waiting when you order your refills. If you take advantage of the bulk pod offer, you’ll get one free package of pods for every three packages that you buy.

VIGGO Pods: Flavors and Nicotine Strengths

At the time of writing, the VIGGO pod system has pods available in six different flavors. Vaper Empire is a company with extensive industry experience and a wide selection of bottled e-liquids, though, and it’s likely that VIGGO users will see additional flavors in the future if the device takes off.

VIGGO pods use nicotine salt e-liquid and are available in strengths of 3 percent and nicotine-free. Nicotine-free pods for pre-filled pod systems are a rarity, and the VIGGO is one of the very few exceptions to that rule. It’s important to note here that the VIGGO is engineered to produce very full vapor clouds compared to a smaller device like the JUUL. So, while a nicotine strength of 3 percent is less than what some other pod systems use, the cloud production ensures that you won’t notice a difference.

The flavors available for the VIGGO pod system are as follows:

  • Apple: The pick of the orchard, balancing sweet red and sour green apple notes to create a balanced flavor profile.
  • Creamy Custard: Smooth, rich dessert e-liquid with a creamy base, a touch of egg yolk and a hint of seductive vanilla.
  • Menthol: Extra-cool menthol for those who really enjoy the head rush.
  • Orange Crush: Fresh orange juice flavor with an icy edge.
  • Tobacco: Slightly sweet tobacco flavor with a bold note of flue-cured leaf.
  • Whole Leaf Tobacco: Edgier, smokier tobacco for those who want something more reminiscent of a cigarette.

All VIGGO pods are color-coded for those who enjoy switching flavors.

Variable-Voltage Pod System

Aside from the fact that it’s a pod system with pre-filled nicotine-free pods available, the most unique feature of the VIGGO is that it has variable-voltage functionality. The best part is that you can expect all three voltage settings to work flawlessly since the VIGGO is a closed-system device that only works with pods from Vaper Empire.

To change voltage settings with the VIGGO, simply press the mode button on the bottom of the battery three times. The indicator light changes color to show the current voltage selection; the VIGGO operates at 3.0, 3.4 and 3.8 volts. At the lowest voltage, you’ll enjoy cooler, smoother vapor and will drain your pods a bit more slowly. At the highest voltage, you’ll get richer flavors and bigger vapor clouds.

How Does Vaper Empire Handle Shipping to Australia?

Vaper Empire uses DHL as a shipping partner to provide express shipping throughout Australia and can deliver products in as little as 3-5 days. The fact that Vaper Empire has an Australian office ensures that the company’s customer service agents are well versed in Australian laws regarding vaping and can walk customers through the compliance hurdles.

 

Australian law is very clear on the fact that to import nicotine e-liquid legally, you must have a doctor’s prescription. That’s your responsibility; Vaper Empire isn’t a pharmacy and doesn’t have the right to request or view your private medical information. It’s highly advisable to go through the process of obtaining a prescription anyway, though, because you never know when a customs agent might ask about it.

Remember that customs agents have the right to open and inspect any package that enters Australia.

If they see that you’ve ordered e-liquid with nicotine, they’re probably going to ask you to present your prescription. Once you have a prescription, simply keep a picture of it on your phone so it’s always available if you need it.

5 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Buy In Vape Shops

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The average vaper barely scratches the surface of what his or her local vape shop has to offer. If you only go to your local vape shop when you need a bottle of e-liquid and a box of coils, you’re missing out on a lot of other fun things that you could also be buying. Do you think that the vape juices, mods, and tanks on display represent everything that a vape shop has to offer? No way.

If you spend a bit of time browsing and asking questions, you’re going to find a huge variety of products that you didn’t even know you wanted. If your local vape shop has been in business for more than a few years, they’ve probably also got a stash of older products that they don’t even bother displaying.

Make your next trip to a local vape shop an adventure by looking for something out of the ordinary. These are the 5 products that you didn’t know you could find at your local vape shop…

#1) Many Vape Shops Stock CBD and Kratom

The American vaping industry is on tenuous legal ground in 2020. In May, the regulatory grace period that the industry has enjoyed for the past several years will end, and every manufacturer in the industry will need to have a pre-market application on file with the FDA for each of its products. Since pre-market tobacco applications are far too costly for small businesses to put together, most independent American vaping brands will disappear in May unless something changes.

Vape shops, in other words, will suddenly find themselves with almost no vaping products to sell. Right now, smart vape shops all over the country like Vapor Connection LLC in Pittsburgh are working their fingers to the bone looking for alternative revenue streams. CBD and kratom are two herbal supplements that have proven to be natural fits for vape shops, perhaps because some people choose to consume those supplements by vaping them.

Before you start checking out the herbal supplements at your local vape shop, remember that supplements are not regulated by the FDA and therefore can’t be marketed with health claims. Don’t ask the owner of your local vape shop whether a given supplement is good for treating a given condition; he or she can’t legally answer that question. Take the time to do some reading online; you’ll find plenty of published studies about CBD, kratom and other popular herbal supplements.

#2) Vintage Vape Gear

Can you believe that the vaping industry is already more than 10 years old? We’ve actually reached the point at which you can safely start using the word “vintage” to describe older vape gear – and if your local vape shop has been around since the beginning, there’s a good chance that they still have some vintage products tucked away somewhere.

Are you a collector? Visit your local vape shop and ask what vintage vape gear they have stashed away. You might find an old ProVari by ProVape or Darwin by Evolv. You might even find an ancient cigalike from back in the day. There are dozens – maybe even hundreds – of vaping brands that have come and gone during the history of the vaping industry. Those companies’ products – now relics of the industry’s past – may become serious collector’s items in the future. For now, though, you can still buy most of them cheaply.

Do you own an older vape tank that you still enjoy using? If the manufacturer of your tank no longer makes the coils, check your local vape shop. A vape shop that’s been around for a while will likely have an enormous selection of coils for obscure tanks.

#3) Replacement Parts for Any Vaping Product

Do you have a tank with a warped o-ring or broken glass enclosure? These days, it’s common for high-end vape tanks to include replacements for all crucial components. If you’ve already used your tank’s replacement parts, though – or you’ve lost them – you might have a serious emergency on your hands if you break your tank and don’t have another tank that you can use while you wait for the replacement part to arrive. When you need a replacement part for a tank or other piece of vaping hardware, your local vape shop is the best resource you could possibly have. Don’t bother checking your local vape shop’s shelves for replacement parts – ask at the counter. Vape shops often store spare parts in drawers and in other containers because the demand for those products isn’t high.

Other random parts and accessories that you can often find at your local vape shop include:

  • Springs and buttons for mechanical mods
  • Battery doors and covers
  • Battery wrappers
  • Battery packs for LiPo-powered mods
  • Metal hardware and drip tips for tanks
  • Mounting screws for rebuildable atomizers
  • Thread lubricant
  • Coil winders and wire cutters

#4) Non-Mainstream Smoking Products In A Vape Shop!?

Do you still smoke from time to time even though you vape? Maybe you’re not necessarily a tobacco smoker, but you do enjoy some alternative smokeables from time to time? Many vape shops actually double as smoke shops because, ironically, the legal future of the tobacco industry is much more secure than that of the vaping industry. In addition, many vape shops were primarily tobacconists before vaping exploded in popularity.

Some of the unusual smoking and tobacco products that you may find at your local vape shop include:

  • Loose tobacco blends for pipe smoking, cigarette rolling or dry herb vaping
  • Non-tobacco herbal cigarettes and smoking blends
  • Imported cigarette brands
  • Swedish snus and other non-combustible tobacco products
  • Wood and glass pipes for tobacco or herb smoking

#5) Dry Herb and Wax Vaping Products

Dry herb vaping isn’t just for cannabis. You can also vaporize loose-leaf tobacco in a dry herb vaporizer, and that option might become very appealing to you in May if all of your favorite e-liquids suddenly become unavailable. Just like tobacco smoking, dry herb vaping has no legal issues – except for those that already govern the tobacco and cannabis industries – and isn’t going anywhere.

You just need the right type of vaporizer to use them; check out my #1 picks for dry herb vaporizers right now.

Many people are likely to give tobacco vaping a try in May, and it’s likely that you can find everything you need to get started with tobacco vaping at your local vape shop.

Why Vape Shops Are Our #1 Best Hope For Killing Teen Vaping

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The results from the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Use Survey are in, and they are extremely alarming for those of us in the vaping industry. Among high school students, a shocking 27.5 percent report regular e-cigarette use. A further 10.5 percent of middle school students report regular vaping. That’s a total of 5 million underaged vapers in the United States as compared to 3.6 million – an already astonishing number – in 2018.

The epidemic of new nicotine users in schools undermines the core goal of the vaping industry, which is to render combustible cigarettes obsolete by transitioning all adult smokers to an alternative that’s equally satisfying but less harmful. It also threatens the future existence of the industry – and adults’ continued ability to access the products that keep them off of cigarettes – as politicians from both parties have repeatedly threatened a blanket ban of virtually all vaping products in an attempt to curb teen vaping.

In January 2020, the federal government finally arrived at a potential compromise by announcing a ban of all cartridge and pod flavors except tobacco and menthol for the closed vaping systems that teens generally use. Among underage vapers, closed systems – particularly JUUL – are the most commonly used vaping products. The ban does not apply, however, to the bottled e-liquids that most adults use. While many adults do use JUUL and will be unhappy about the reduced availability of flavors, most vapers will likely agree that the flavor ban accomplishes its goal of making vaping less appealing to teens without making it less appealing to adults.

It is our hope that the flavor ban will finally put a dent in the underage vaping epidemic and that vape shops such as The Vape Bar can continue to survive and thrive. True vaping industry professionals know, however, that we cannot remain idle. The government can and will regulate the entire vaping industry out of existence if the teen vaping trend doesn’t begin showing signs of improvement immediately. We need to play an active role in keeping e-cigarettes out of kids’ hands while ensuring that adults can still get the products they depend upon.

This is how your local vape shops work to stop teen vaping.

Industry-Leading Standards for Age Checking

Vape shops have some of the world’s most stringent standards for age verification. It’s likely that most teens buy vaping products from gas stations, convenience stores and online sellers that don’t check buyers’ ages. Gas stations and convenience stores often get very busy during peak hours, and most of the products that those retailers sell aren’t age-restricted. The employees at such stores simply aren’t always in the habit of checking ID before every sale – but we are.

Vape shops operate completely differently from other sellers of nicotine products. Every product that a vape shop sells is age-restricted. We don’t admit customers under 21, and we check ID on every sale, regardless of the product being purchased.

Secure Storage of Nicotine Products

A good vape shop always stores nicotine products behind the counter or in locked displays. That’s not just to prevent shoplifting; it’s also to ensure that minors have no physical access to the products. Do you have a local convenience store that displays products like disposable vape pens next to the dodgy energy supplements and no-brand CBD gummies at the front of the store? If you’re looking for the reason why teens in your community are vaping, stores like that are the first places where you should look. This is another case where vape shops simply know better because we don’t sell any products that aren’t age-restricted.

Tasteful Advertising for an Adult Audience

Every business wants to attract new customers, and advertising is the way to do that. Although most vaping products contain no tobacco, vape shops are subject in most states to the same advertising restrictions that tobacco companies face. We’re required to utilize advertising channels that aren’t geared toward minors, which is exactly as it should be.

For online vaping brands, though, the story is a little different.

The vaping industry – particularly for companies that primarily sell their products online – is insanely competitive. The differences between various brands’ products are often quite small. To break away from the pack, an online vaping brand needs to appeal to the buyer’s emotions and establish a unique brand identity. Sometimes, though, brands go too far in their attempts to get ahead. In a lengthy report, researchers from Stanford have alleged that JUUL hired social media influencers extensively during the brand’s launch and that the company specifically targeted youthful customers. JUUL, as mentioned above, is almost exclusively the brand that teen vapers use. If not for JUUL, most of those teens would not be using nicotine at all.

Mindful Community Stewardship

The biggest difference between local vape shops and the big online vaping brands is the fact that vape shops are members of their communities. Vape shop owners know their customers and are personally invested in ensuring that their customers’ children aren’t using nicotine products.

Put differently, a conversation that begins with “Did my kid get this from your store?” is one that no vape shop owner ever wants to have.

Vape shop owners are the same as other small business owners. We want to look our customers in the eye and serve our communities to the best of our ability. Having a few extra dollars in the register at the end of the day is definitely not worth the cost of selling vaping products to teens.

Every person who vapes has an addiction that might last a lifetime. We’re all glad to have discovered a less harmful alternative to smoking, but most of us would prefer never to have tried nicotine in the first place. The last thing we want is for a child to suffer the same fate.

About the Author

Robert Conway is the owner of The Vape Bar Portland. Oklahoma City’s premier vape shop, The Vape Bar is veteran owned and operated and prides itself on maintaining one of the largest selections of e-liquid and vape gear in the OKC area.

6 JUUL Tips and Tricks: How To Make It Better…

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Personally, I’m not a fan of JUUL. I’d much rather use something like the Apollo Breze Kit. Or one of these disposable vape pens – they’re cheaper and tend to vape a lot better.

Still, for whatever reason, JUUL is very popular. The JUUL brand launched with what was most likely the most extensive public relations blitz in the history of the vaping industry, and the aggressive marketing paid off. JUUL outsells other e-cigarette brands in American retail outlets by a ratio of more than three to one, and entrepreneurs around the world have built thriving businesses simply by serving the large and growing JUUL user community.

One such business is Premium Vape, and in their time serving the JUUL users of New Zealand and Australia, they’ve learned a number of tips and tricks that can make the experience of using the JUUL even better. These are a few of their favorite JUUL tips.

#1) Fix a JUUL That’s Giving You Weak Hits

When you’re using a new JUUL pod, life is golden. You’ll enjoy big hits of thick, flavorful vapor – until, suddenly, you don’t. Weak hits are among the most common JUUL problems reported by owners. If you’re not getting satisfying hits out of your JUUL, it’s likely that air bubbles have formed around one or both of the wicks in the pod. When e-liquid isn’t flowing to the pod’s atomizer coil efficiently, the JUUL’s automatic temperature control function kicks in, lowering the device’s output power to prevent a dry hit. That’s why you’re getting weak hits. Tap the pod gently to break the air bubbles. If the JUUL still gives you weak hits, try waiting longer between puffs to give the atomizer coil more time to re-saturate with e-liquid.

#2) Learn How to Refill JUUL Pods

One of the first things you’ll learn as a new JUUL user is that JUUL pods are expensive. One JUUL pod should last about as long as a pack of cigarettes, but that’s only true if you use your JUUL as often as you would smoke. In reality, though, that’s not what many JUUL users do; they simply puff on their devices all day. If you burn through your JUUL pods too quickly, you’ll end up paying more for pods than you would pay for cigarettes.

Get some bottled e-liquid and learn how to refill your own JUUL pods. It’s not too difficult; you simply pry the two halves of the pod apart, remove the rubber dam covering the e-liquid reservoir and refill the reservoir with the juice of your choice. There are some additional steps that you can take to improve the performance of your refilled pods, but they’re optional. You can usually refill a JUUL pod several times before it stops functioning optimally. At that time, you’ll need to replace it.

#3) Get to Know the Third-Party JUUL Ecosystem

One of the benefits of the JUUL brand’s popularity is that it’s allowed other companies to get in on the fun by offering their own JUUL pod alternatives and other third-party accessories. Unhappy with the battery life of your JUUL? Grab a portable battery charging case. Want to customize your JUUL and make it something completely your own? Buy a battery skin.

The best third-party JUUL accessories by far, though, are the many JUUL-compatible pods that you can find at many finer vape retailers. Third-party JUUL pods make it easy for you to enjoy flavors that aren’t available in the official JUUL pod lineup, and what’s even better is that JUUL-compatible pods almost always hold more e-liquid than official JUUL pods while costing less.

#4) Learn How to Disassemble and Clean Your JUUL

Ordinarily, cleaning your JUUL should be very easy. When you clean your JUUL, just give all of the metal contacts a quick rub using a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. That’ll help to keep your JUUL running its best and ensure that you don’t experience misfires when you attempt to use your device. If you experience a major leak, though, you may need to do something a little more drastic. If e-liquid enters the internal electronics of the JUUL, you can take the device apart by pushing the indicator light down with a pin while pushing the electronics out of the bottom of the outer casing with a flat tool. Use a cotton swab to soak up the excess e-liquid before reassembling the JUUL.

Disassembling and reassembling the JUUL isn’t difficult, but the JUUL isn’t a device that’s intended to be serviced by the end-user. There is a chance, for example, that you could break a solder point and render the device inoperable, voiding your warranty in the process. Disassembling the JUUL is something that you should only do as a last resort if a pod has leaked and flooded the device’s internal electronics.

#5) Learn How to Enable the JUUL’s Party Mode

Did you know that your JUUL may have a built-in light show? The device’s motion sensor activates it. To activate the party mode, simply puff on the JUUL and wait for the indicator light to turn white. Next, begin waving the device around. The light will flash in various colors until you hold the device still. No, JUUL party mode isn’t an optical illusion; the LED is actually changing color. It’s unknown whether all versions of the JUUL still have the party mode; it’s possible that JUUL Labs has quietly removed the feature in light of the recent controversy surrounding the brand.

#6) Learn How to Fix a JUUL That Isn’t Hitting

If your JUUL stops hitting, it’s most likely because the battery isn’t charged or because the atomizer coil is dry. Assuming your pod isn’t empty, a dry coil can happen because you’re hitting the JUUL too often or because air bubbles have formed around the wicks as described above. If you’ve eliminated those possibilities, though, you might be using a pod that doesn’t fit tightly into your JUUL.

There are small variations from one product batch to the next, and you can resolve that problem easily by placing a finger and thumb lightly over the pod’s windows when puffing. The increased air pressure makes it easier for you to trigger the JUUL’s airflow sensor when you inhale. If you experience the same problem with every pod that you use, try using a pair of pliers to compress the sides of the JUUL device slightly. Your pods will fit more tightly, and that should eliminate the issue. Don’t bend the device’s casing so much, however, that you can no longer insert the pods.

Generally, my advice would be to avoid JUUL like the plague. It’s expensive and it doesn’t perform all that well. Plus, the battery life SUCKS. If you want a portable device, you’re much better off with a refillable pod system like the ones listed inside our Best Pod Vape Guide.

Pod Vape vs. Vape Mod: What’s The Difference?

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The vaping market has narrowed a bit over the past couple of years. On one side, you have the experienced vapers who are still using the same box mods and refillable tanks that they’ve used for years. On the other side, you have the newer generation of vapers who are primarily using pod vapes with pre-filled or refillable pods.

Other types of vaping devices – such as vape pens, mechanical mods, and cigalikes – simply aren’t as popular as they used to be. What should you do, then, if you’re new to vaping? Should you just follow the crowd and buy a JUUL? Not necessarily. Not only are there many, many pod systems out there, but the fact is that a pod device may not even be the right fit for you in the first place. Don’t buy your first vaping device without reading this simple guide to pod vapes vs. mods.

Inhaling Style

Vape pods – and the tanks included with most mods – have different airflow characteristics that lend themselves to different inhaling styles. Pod systems are designed for the mouth-to-lung (MTL) inhaling style that you’d use when smoking a cigarette. Most mods, on the other hand, include tanks designed to facilitate the inhalation of the vapor directly to the lungs. You don’t have to use your mod with the included tank. You can buy a mod and pair it with a mouth-to-lung tank – but that adds complexity that you probably don’t want when you’re new to vaping.

Throat Hit vs. Flavor

Almost universally, former smokers crave a strong throat hit when they first make the switch to vaping. The throat hit is the feeling that you get in the throat when you inhale nicotine. A cigarette produces a strong throat hit, and a vaping device can produce virtually the same sensation if it’s designed for mouth-to-lung inhaling and filled with a strong nicotine salt e-liquid. That’s the type of experience that you’ll have with a pod system. When you use a high-nicotine e-liquid, though, the nicotine provides much of the flavor.

A mod, on the other hand, is set up to provide the best possible experience with a lower-nicotine e-liquid. Since the vapor production of a mod is much greater than that of a pod system, you’ll absorb around the same amount of nicotine with either type of device. With a lower-nicotine e-liquid, though, you’ll taste the flavor of the e-liquid itself much more prominently and will not really taste or feel the nicotine.

Convenience vs. Flexibility

Nothing in the world of vaping is more convenient or easier to use than a closed pod system. Just charge the battery, drop in a pod and enjoy. You don’t even need to think about tweaking your device. You don’t need to wonder whether the tank you’re using is really providing the best possible experience. A pod system only works with its own pods, and those pods are already set up to provide a great experience.

On the other hand, the fact that a closed pod system only works with its own pods also means that a typical pod system doesn’t have many different flavors available. You might love those flavors so much that you never want to experiment with anything else. If you’re the type who wants to try everything, though, a mod can work with any bottled e-liquid on the market.

Refillable pod systems do exist, and those systems bridge the gap between pod vapes vs. mods. They usually work best, however, with high-strength nicotine salt e-liquids.

Cloud Chasing vs. Discreet Vaping

Some mods have pretty crazy cloud production. A big rip from a high-end mod can just about fill a room. There is almost no way, in other words, to vape discreetly with a mod. Many mod users don’t care about that; they’ll happily create their own personal weather systems wherever they go. Other people, though, don’t like to call attention to themselves when they vape. They’d rather vape privately, and they’re concerned that people might find enormous clouds obnoxious. If you fall into that category, you’ll probably be happiest with a pod system. Pod systems may also be better for indoor vaping because the clouds that they produce dissipate quickly instead of lingering in the air.

Initial Investment vs. Long-Term Cost

With starter kit prices that seldom exceed $30, pod systems are typically some of the least expensive vaping devices that you can buy. If you want to buy a mod that includes a tank, on the other hand, you should expect to spend at least $50 – plus an extra investment of $35 or so for batteries and e-liquid. So, if you want to start vaping today, you’ll definitely get out of the vape shop a lot more cheaply if you buy a pod system.

Closed pod systems, however, use the classic razor-and-blades business model. You’ll only pay a little for the device, but you’ll pay a lot for the pods. The bottled e-liquid that you’ll use with a mod, on the other hand, costs much less per ml of juice than packs of pre-filled pods. Mods tend to cost less than pod systems over the long term.

Keep in mind, though, that using a high-output mod does diminish your savings somewhat. The more vapor your device produces, the more often you’ll need to buy e-liquid. If you use sweetened e-liquid, your coils won’t last long – so if you really want to vape as cheaply as possible, you should avoid using vape juice that contains sucralose.

Easy Storage vs. Long Battery Life

There is an enormous difference in battery capacity between pod vapes and mods. While a typical pod system has a battery capacity no greater than about 300 mAh, a dual-battery mod may boast 5,000 mAh of battery life or more. The difference is mitigated somewhat by the fact that people typically use mods at higher wattages than pod systems, but you’ll definitely enjoy longer vaping times with a mod than you would with a pod system.

On the other hand, though, there’s no such thing as a device with 5,000 mAh of battery capacity that’s fun to carry in your pocket. A pod system can fit just about anywhere and is far more pleasant to carry. Either way, we have guides that’ll show you the best device in each category – check them out below!

What Are Shortfill E-Liquids? Everything You Need To Know…

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If you live in the United Kingdom or Europe – and your vaping setup includes a sub-ohm tank or RDA – chances are that shortfill e-liquids are a part of your daily life. For those who live in the United States and other regions, though, the term might be unfamiliar.

Why might shortfill e-liquids matter to you?

Well, e-liquid makers in the United States haven’t been able to release new e-liquid flavors legally since 2016 without first submitting pre-market applications to the FDA. Since no e-liquid maker has submitted an application and had it approved yet, the U.S. vaping industry has remained stagnant for several years. In the U.K. and other regions, though, the industry remains vibrant and dynamic, and e-liquid makers have continued to release a steady flow of creative new flavors.

If you decide to shop at an overseas vendor like Vapester and learn more about what’s happening in the wider vaping community, you’re going to see a lot of shortfill e-liquids and will need to know what they are and how to use them. This is required information if you want to buy vape juice from the other side of the Atlantic, so let’s dive in.

The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) Is the Reason Why Shortfill E-Liquids Exist

While vaping regulations in the United States haven’t fully taken effect yet, the European Union has had regulations in place for the vaping industry for many years. The set of rules governing the industry is called the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), and it establishes limits for things like how large a vaping tank can be and how much nicotine an e-liquid can contain.

Among other things, the TPD limits the maximum strength of any e-liquid with nicotine to 20 mg/ml. The TPD is the reason why European vapers have never had to worry about underage vaping or whether it might be necessary to boycott the JUUL; until JUUL finally released lower-strength pods, the product’s incredibly high nicotine strength of 59 mg/ml made it illegal in the U.K. and E.U.

The reason why shortfill e-liquids exist is that the TPD also limits the bottle size of any e-liquid with nicotine to 10 ml. When the TPD was enacted, the bottle size limit made perfect sense because it helped to minimize the chance of accidental nicotine poisoning without inconveniencing vapers too greatly. In the age of the RDA and the mesh coil tank, though, 10 ml of e-liquid isn’t even a full day’s supply for some people.

Shortfill e-liquid allows vapers in the U.K. and E.U. to buy bigger bottles of e-liquid without violating the TPD bottle size limit.

What Are Shortfill E-Liquids?

A shortfill e-liquid is a large bottle of nicotine-free e-liquid that isn’t completely full. A 60 ml shortfill e-liquid bottle, for example, is usually sold under the name “50 ml shortfill” because it only contains 50 ml of e-liquid. You complete the bottle by adding 10 ml of e-liquid with nicotine.

If you buy a bottle of shortfill e-liquid on its own, you will receive nicotine-free e-liquid. Unless you want nicotine-free e-liquid, you must order a “nicotine shot” separately to complete the shortfill e-liquid. A nicotine shot is a 10 ml bottle of flavorless e-liquid that contains nicotine. The strength of a nicotine shot is usually 18 mg.

The reason why shortfill e-liquid bottles can be larger than 10 ml is that they contain no nicotine until you add it. Therefore, the TPD bottle size limit doesn’t apply. A bottle of nicotine-free e-liquid can be any size without violating the TPD.

How to Buy Shortfill E-Liquids

As mentioned above, you must buy at least one nicotine shot for every bottle of shortfill e-liquid that you buy if you want the e-liquid to contain nicotine. Sometimes, retailers include the nicotine shots for free to make the process easier for customers.

The most popular nicotine strength among shortfill e-liquid buyers is 3 mg, and the two most common shortfill bottle sizes are 60 and 120 ml. Remember that merchants often call those products “50 ml” and “100 ml” respectively, because that’s how much e-liquid the bottles contain before you add the nicotine shots.

  • To make a 60 ml bottle of e-liquid with a strength of 3 mg, add one 18 mg nicotine shot.
  • To make a 120 ml bottle of e-liquid with a strength of 3 mg, add two 18 mg nicotine shots.

How to Use Shortfill E-Liquids

When you receive your shortfill e-liquid purchase, you’ll have at least one e-liquid bottle and at least one nicotine shot. Before you use the e-liquid, you’ll need to combine those components.

  • Start by prying the nozzle top from the shortfill bottle. If you find the top difficult to remove, you can slide a butter knife under the seam at the edge of the cap and pry up gently.
  • Once the bottle is open, pour in the full contents of your one or two nicotine shots.
  • Replace the nozzle top and close the shortfill bottle.
  • Shake the shortfill bottle vigorously for several seconds to mix the contents fully.
  • Fill your tank and enjoy it!

Remember that a commercial e-liquid production facility uses dedicated machines to mix e-liquid ingredients so thoroughly that they remain suspended in the solution permanently. You should never have to worry about the flavors or nicotine separating out of the solution when you use a pre-mixed commercial e-liquid. When you mix a shortfill e-liquid, though, it isn’t really possible for your hands to duplicate the work that a machine would normally do. When you use shortfill e-liquids, in other words, it’s a good idea to give the bottle a quick shake each time you fill your tank.

Conclusion: Shortfill E-Liquid Is the Best Way to Experience E.U. and U.K. Vape Juice

We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief introduction to shortfill e-liquids. We conclude with the following thoughts:

  • Buying shortfill e-liquid is the most convenient way to experience the creative new flavors coming out of the United Kingdom and Europe.
  • If you prefer to use e-liquid with nicotine, you need at least one nicotine shot for every shortfill e-liquid bottle that you buy.
  • Shake your shortfill e-liquid bottles periodically to ensure that the nicotine remains evenly distributed throughout the bottle.